Disney fans have slammed the cast of upcoming live-action Lilo & Stitch. In it, Sydney Agudong (22, "Infamously in Love") will play Lilo's sister Nani, which annoys some. Agudong, while of Hawaiian descent, does not live up to the portrayal of Nani in the 2002 animated series, critics argue. There the character had darker skin, black hair and other ethnic characteristics.
That's what the 2002 series Lilo & Stitch was about
A blue alien disguised as a dog lands on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is adopted there by a little girl named Lilo. She lives with her older sister Nani after her parents died in a car accident. Stitch's destructive nature keeps getting Lilo and Nani in trouble.
Nani wants to provide a stable, safe environment for her little sister. The social worker Cobra Bobo is constantly breathing down their necks. That's why Nani is trying, among other things, to find a permanent job...
"Whitewashing" accusation against Disney
A Twitter user wrote: "The conflict in Lilo and Stitch, which centers on the colonialist state's attempt to tear apart the small 'broken' Hawaiian family, is made even clearer by the fact that both girls are darker-skinned. Casting the role the Nani with a light-skinned Hawaiian woman stands in the way."
Another user finds: "Lilo and Stitch represent dark-skinned people of color." Nani's occupation with Agudong is a form of "whitewashing". It's something Disney always does.
The critics also do not accept the argument that Disney cast an African-American leading actress in the live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" (2023). After all, Arielle's submission did not refer to cultural origin. That was clearly the case with "Lilo & Stitch". "You're comparing oranges to apples," tweeted one commenter.
Criticism was already pouring down on the live action film "Aladdin".
It's not the first time Disney has been criticized for casting decisions in live-action remakes. This happened in 2019 with "Aladdin", where Naomi Scott (29) played Princess Jasmine as a British actress of Indian descent. Jasmine was the first dark-skinned Disney princess in the 1992 animated film.
